Interdisciplinary Lesson on History and Serbian Language: The Socio-Political Background of the Novel When Pumpkins Blossomed

Serbian language and literature teacher Vanja Bajić and history teacher Vidak Pejović held a highly engaging interdisciplinary lesson exploring the historical and political context of Yugoslavia after World War II. Since understanding the novel When Pumpkins Blossomed requires familiarity with the political events of that period, the lesson aimed to help students grasp key concepts such as the Informbiro Resolution, Goli Otok, and the basic principles of communism.

The novel When Pumpkins Blossomed has sparked controversy since its publication, primarily for its depiction of Goli Otok and its realistic portrayal of the political climate of the time. Students found it particularly fascinating to learn that the author, Dragoslav Mihailović, was himself imprisoned on Goli Otok, giving him firsthand experience of this camp for political dissidents. They were also intrigued to discover that the play based on the novel was swiftly banned by the authorities.

The teachers provided detailed explanations of the key role of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia in shaping social and cultural life, highlighting how works deemed unsuitable for public display or publication were censored. The students demonstrated exceptional interest during the lesson, asking questions and actively participating in discussions, which contributed to a deeper understanding of the historical and political background of the novel.

I am extremely pleased and proud to be the parent of a Savremena student. During my first encounter with the school management, when I asked about my child’s potential enrolment, I saw how much love, enthusiasm and professionalism you put in your work. I was impressed by your approach, ideas and methods. I couldn’t believe something like this existed in our country! It doesn’t take long to realise that this is a school you would recommend to everyone. Creativity, modern technology, top-quality education, and most of all, the humaneness that can be seen throughout the school, make it truly different and worthy of its name – Savremena Gimnazija. With such an approach, the success of this school and, consequently, our children’s success, is unavoidable. Congratulations! Jelena Đorđević, Andrija’s mum
Contemporary in any sense of the word, our school offers functional knowledge and quality preparation for tertiary education in Serbia and abroad. Implementing modern and creative teaching in the classroom, where the teachers’ pedagogy and students’ performance are aligned with the highest academic standards for the high-school finals, our school develops linguistic, mathematical, scientific, artistic, cultural, technical and ICT competence, which is a prerequisite for further education and professional development. Teaching is supported by the interactive whiteboards and educational software, whereas practice exercises research and critical thinking.